A Ruler of Men by O. Henry (1914)
The story revolves around a man who has been appointed to govern a small town. He uses his position to exact revenge on the townspeople for past wrongs committed against him. The narrative explores themes of power, corruption, and retribution.
By O. Henry · First published 1914 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Satire, Adventure · 8,224 words
First lines
I walked the streets of the City of Insolence, thirsting for the sight of a stranger face. For the City is a desert of familiar types as thick and alike as the grains in a sandstorm; and you grow to hate them as you do a friend who is always by you, or one of your own kin.
And my desire was granted, for I saw near a corner of Broadway and Twenty-ninth Street, a little flaxen-haired man with a face like a scaly-bark hickory-nut, selling to a fast-gathering crowd a tool that omnigeneously proclaimed itself a can-opener, a screwdriver, a buttonhook, a nail-file, a shoehorn, a watch-guard, a potato-peeler, and an ornament to any gentleman's key-ring.
What this Textopian page supports
A Ruler of Men is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Satire, Adventure, Comedy, Historical Fiction
- Length: 8,224 words
- Structure: 1 section, 170 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Ruler of Men by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Ruler of Men?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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- The Proem by O. Henry
- Three Paragraphs by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of ambition, identity, and the absurdity of human endeavors, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Satire — The narrative employs humor and irony to critique political ambition and the romanticized notions of revolution.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey to a foreign land and the pursuit of a revolutionary cause, typical of adventure narratives.
- Comedy — The dialogue and situations are infused with comedic elements, highlighting the absurdity of the characters' actions.
Tags
Short Story · Classic Literature · American Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Fable · Allegory · Realism · Symbolism · Irony